Teen Creates Pygora Goat Fiber Business
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Audra Otto may be a teenager, but she’s already built the foundation of a successful goat fiber business. Otto lives on Blackberry Blossom Farm in southern Minnesota. She makes and sells handspun yarn, batts of fiber, and hand-knitted items like hats and scarves from registered Pygora goats.
The Pygora goats came from a farm in Cresco, Iowa. A friend and mentor introduced Otto to the breed, and she purchased a pregnant doe—the start of a quickly growing herd. “I have 12 does, three bucks, and 11 babies right now,” says Otto.
“Each goat produces anywhere from 1/2 to 3 lbs. of fleece, which I then hand process. I’d say that each fleece, once washed and dehaired, can produce at least four skeins of yarn, more depending on what other fibers I blend the Pygora with.”
Pygora goats are a cross between Pygmies and Angoras. They’re a friendly, versatile breed that produces a luxurious fleece that fiber enthusiasts prize. Unlike other breeds, Pygora fleece stays soft even as the goats age. In contrast, Angora fleece gets coarser as the animal matures. This soft fleece is classified into three types: A, B, and C. Type A is the most similar to Angora goat hair and is known for its length and shine. B is very soft with distinct guard hair. Finally, type C is comparable to cashmere and is fine enough to be plucked right off the animal.
The goats are shorn twice a year, typically in the spring and fall. The fiber then needs to be washed and dehaired. Otto normally sends most of hers to a local fiber mill, though she keeps the soft baby fleece at home for the luxury. The resulting fiber is called a cloud, and it’s portioned out depending on its final purpose. The ones that will be multicolor yarn are dyed immediately, while solid color yarn is dyed after it’s woven. It’s then carded to align the fibers in one direction. Otto takes these fibers to her spinning wheel to ply them into yarn. This involves twisting two or more strands of fibers together for a durable yarn.
Otto currently sells through two storefronts as well as vendor fairs and Facebook. Typically, she’ll sell 100 skeins of yarn a year and 100 or more batts of fiber. A batt is fiber that has been washed, dehaired, dyed, and carded but not yet spun into yarn. While taking care of the goats takes just 20 min. a day, Otto enjoys excuses to spend time with them. “The most satisfying part to me is seeing a baby born, putting all the hard work into raising and caring for her, and then being able to use this homegrown fleece to make something special,” says Otto. “I wish people could see all the hard work and time that goes into one singular fiber product and, therefore, fully appreciate the process. Also, to know how much individual personality each goat has. They’re very smart and lovable.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Audra Otto (https://dsotto5.wixsite.com/blackberryblossom; Instagram:
@blackberry_blossom_farm).
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Teen Creates Pygora Goat Fiber Business LIVESTOCK Sheep/Goats Audra Otto may be a teenager but she’s already built the foundation of a successful goat fiber business Otto lives on Blackberry Blossom Farm in southern Minnesota She makes and sells handspun yarn batts of fiber and hand-knitted items like hats and scarves from registered Pygora goats The Pygora goats came from a farm in Cresco Iowa A friend and mentor introduced Otto to the breed and she purchased a pregnant doe—the start of a quickly growing herd “I have 12 does three bucks and 11 babies right now ” says Otto “Each goat produces anywhere from 1/2 to 3 lbs of fleece which I then hand process I’d say that each fleece once washed and dehaired can produce at least four skeins of yarn more depending on what other fibers I blend the Pygora with ” Pygora goats are a cross between Pygmies and Angoras They’re a friendly versatile breed that produces a luxurious fleece that fiber enthusiasts prize Unlike other breeds Pygora fleece stays soft even as the goats age In contrast Angora fleece gets coarser as the animal matures This soft fleece is classified into three types: A B and C Type A is the most similar to Angora goat hair and is known for its length and shine B is very soft with distinct guard hair Finally type C is comparable to cashmere and is fine enough to be plucked right off the animal The goats are shorn twice a year typically in the spring and fall The fiber then needs to be washed and dehaired Otto normally sends most of hers to a local fiber mill though she keeps the soft baby fleece at home for the luxury The resulting fiber is called a cloud and it’s portioned out depending on its final purpose The ones that will be multicolor yarn are dyed immediately while solid color yarn is dyed after it’s woven It’s then carded to align the fibers in one direction Otto takes these fibers to her spinning wheel to ply them into yarn This involves twisting two or more strands of fibers together for a durable yarn Otto currently sells through two storefronts as well as vendor fairs and Facebook Typically she’ll sell 100 skeins of yarn a year and 100 or more batts of fiber A batt is fiber that has been washed dehaired dyed and carded but not yet spun into yarn While taking care of the goats takes just 20 min a day Otto enjoys excuses to spend time with them “The most satisfying part to me is seeing a baby born putting all the hard work into raising and caring for her and then being able to use this homegrown fleece to make something special ” says Otto “I wish people could see all the hard work and time that goes into one singular fiber product and therefore fully appreciate the process Also to know how much individual personality each goat has They’re very smart and lovable ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Audra Otto https://dsotto5 wixsite com/blackberryblossom; Instagram: @blackberry_blossom_farm
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